Capitol Updates

Thursday, May 15, 2025

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ALERT: Paid FMLA for Teachers Set for Debate Next Week

Nebraska educators, the moment is now! LB306, which includes the amended LB440 providing three weeks of paid Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) for teachers, is scheduled for General File debate as early as Monday, May 19. 

Originally introduced as LB440 by Sen. Ashlei Spivey, this provision was advanced last week as a committee amendment to LB306. This is the first round of consideration in the Nebraska Legislature, and advancing LB306 to the next round is critical to ensuring teachers across the state receive this vital support. Eligible teachers qualify for paid FMLA under federal guidelines, which include having worked at least 1,250 hours in the past 12 months for a district with 50 or more employees and needing leave for a new child, serious personal or family health conditions, or certain military family circumstances. 

The three weeks of paid FMLA in LB306 addresses critical needs for Nebraska’s educators. It allows teachers to welcome a new child, recover from illness, or care for a loved one without depleting sick days or facing financial strain. Supported by a 0.35% payroll deduction matched by districts, the leave covers substitute costs, with surplus funds strengthening an Education Retention Fund with the intention to boost professional development and address teacher shortages. This policy promotes equity, particularly for young women who often face career barriers due to inadequate leave, and reduces burnout, fostering stable classrooms and a stronger education system. 

Advancing LB306 is a pivotal step toward supporting teachers’ well-being and retention, but it requires immediate action. Senators must hear from educators to understand the stakes. Contact your state senator and any senator connected to your hometown or personal network today. Share personal stories about the challenges of balancing life events without paid leave and emphasize how this policy ensures teachers can serve students without sacrificing their health or financial security. Your voice can make the difference in securing this transformative support for Nebraska’s educators. 

CALL TO ACTION: NSEA members, act now! Reach out to your state senator and any senators you have a connection with before the potential General File debate on May 19. Urge them to advance LB306 to the next round to secure three weeks of paid FMLA for teachers. Share why this matters for you, your colleagues, and your students. Visit www.nsea.org/SupportLB306 for senator contact information and talking points. Your advocacy is crucial to strengthening Nebraska’s education system—act today! 

Education Committee Advances Legislative Packages

The Legislature’s Education Committee has advanced two significant package bills, LB653 (amended by AM995) and LB306 (amended by AM1440), bundling multiple education-related proposals to streamline their passage through General File, Select File, and Final Reading before reaching the governor for approval or veto. LB653 incorporates LBs 303, 430, 497, 507, and 625, addressing special education funding, enrollment options, student discipline, and financial transparency. LB306 combines LBs 378, 408, 440, 550, and 682 as amended by AM566, covering postsecondary education, teacher support, and school district accountability. These packages reflect a strategic effort to expedite impactful education reforms. 

Education Bill Package I – LB653 (as amended by AM995) strengthens support for students with special needs by amending sections like 79-238 to ensure equitable access to enrollment options for students with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), prohibiting denials until districts meet a statewide IEP acceptance threshold. It introduces reimbursements from the Education Future Fund for high-cost IEP students (79-246) and enhances transparency in enrollment processes (79-239). Additionally, LB430 revises suspension protocols, requiring detailed notifications and behavior management plans (79-265, 79-268), while LB625 mandates a public financial database for school districts, managed by the Department of Administrative Services, to be implemented by Jan. 1, 2026. 

Education Bill Package II – LB306 (as amended by AM1440) focuses on higher education and teacher support, amending section 85-304 to authorize the Nebraska State Colleges’ Board of Trustees to enter long-term financing for student housing without state tax funds. It expands Nebraska Career Scholarship eligibility (85-3003, 85-3004) and removes internship requirements for private college recipients (85-3006). LB408 establishes a forgivable loan program for special education teachers, offering up to 25 annual loans per eligible institution to address shortages. LB440 creates the Education Leave and Support Act, implementing a payroll fee to fund substitute teacher costs during FMLA leave, with surplus funds supporting teacher retention. 

Both packages address critical education challenges, from enhancing special education access and teacher recruitment to improving financial oversight and postsecondary opportunities. As these bills progress, the NSEA urges educators and stakeholders to engage with lawmakers, emphasizing the need for robust funding and equitable policies to support Nebraska’s students and schools. Stay tuned for updates on their legislative journey and potential impacts on our education system. 

Review of Education Related Priority Bills

Approved by Governor 

LB84 (Rountree) Adopt the School Psychologist Interstate Licensure Compact 

NSEA Position: Support 

LB143 (Rountree) Change provisions relating to student enrollment 

NSEA Position: Monitor 

LB296 (Arch) Require NDE to create a centralized education records system 

NSEA Position: Monitor 

LB390 (Murman) Require each school board to adopt a policy relating to library information 

NSEA Position: Monitor 

LB428 (Murman) Change school policies on the involvement of parents in schools 

NSEA Position: Monitor 

LB457 (Bostar) Require anaphylaxis policies for school districts and licensed child care facilities 

NSEA Position: Support 

LB645 (Ballard) Change provisions relating to school retirement systems 

NSEA Position: Support 

LB650 (von Gillern) Adopt the Community Development Assistance Act 

NSEA Position: Monitor 

Presented to Governor

LB140 (Sanders) Require school policies to use of electronic communication devices by students 

NSEA Position: Support 

LB383 (Storer) Adopt the Parental Rights in Social Media Act, and prohibit child pornography 

NSEA Position: Monitor 

Final Reading 

LB89 (Kauth) Adopt the Stand With Women Act 

NSEA Position: Oppose 

LB258 (Raybould) Change provisions relating to the minimum wage under the Wage and Hour Act 

NSEA Position: Oppose 

LB261 (Arch) Appropriate funds for the expenses of Nebraska State Government 

NSEA Position: Monitor 

LB346 (Arch) Provide for termination of boards, commissions, and eliminate funds 

NSEA Position: Monitor 

LB391 (Murman) Adopt the Give to Enable Scholarship Act and provide for income tax adjustments 

NSEA Position: Neutral 

LB647 (Revenue) Change provisions relating to the Nebraska educational savings plan trust 

NSEA Position: Neutral 

LB649 (Revenue) Adopt the Defense Efforts Workforce Act 

NSEA Position: Monitor 

Select File 

LB468 (Clements) Change provisions relating to inheritance taxes 

NSEA Position: Monitor – Failed to Advance 

General File

LB170 (Brandt) Eliminate the sales tax exemptions for candy and soft drinks 

NSEA Position: Monitor 

LB306 Change provisions relating to Nebraska State Colleges (LB378, 408, 440, 550, 682) 

NSEA Position: Support 

LB653 Change provisions to reimbursement for special educ programs (LB303, 430, 497, 507, 625) 

NSEA Position: Neutral 

In Committee

LB156 (Conrad) Allow tort claims for sexual assaults of children in school settings 

NSEA Position: Monitor 

LB440 (Spivey) Adopt the Education Leave and Support Act 

NSEA Position: Support – Amended into LB306 

LB538 (Hardin) Require educational institutions adopt policy on discrimination and antisemitism 

NSEA Position: Neutral 

LR12CA (Kauth) Constitutional amendment to impose a limit on ad valorem taxes for real property 

NSEA Position: Oppose 

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